The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-08-26
"TWAS SIMPLY FATE"
Written for this paper.l

Written for this paper.l
What sight it was! An old wagon road,
long fallen into dsuse, led away into tie
depths of the woodland, and down this, with
her fashionable skirts pinned up until sug-
gestion OF the daintiest OF hose was visible
tiny wicker lunch basket in one hand, the
other grasping the end of bit of stick, the
opposite end of which was firmly set in the
capacious jaws Of a great st. Bernard, Miss
Jessamine Maure was speeding. Which en-
joyed the romp most, the mistress or the dog,
would have been difficult to tell; both certainly
pursued the sport with wonderful zest. Miss
Jessamine's cheeks were flushed to the color
of roses, her eyes sparkled with all intensity
Of excitement, the sailor hat swung carelessly
over her shoulder, and her hair, loosed from
Its usual stylish bounds, fell streaming down
her back i'll glossy ringlets. The dog, not
content with many exhibitions of his superb
ority in the way of f1eetness, occasionally
tugged at his end of the stick with sudden
ness that snatched it out of her weaker grasp,
greatly to the detriment of her gloves; but he
evidently considered it much pleasanter to
submit to the gentle restraint, and always
hastened to re-establish the connection. And
he was therein sensible old fellow; for not q
few of his intellectual superiors would have
given fortune to have possessed his hold ON
the end Of that bit of wood
1t would have greatly surprised many of
her prim city associates to have seen the fas-
tidious Miss Jessamine Maure on that Sep
telnber afternoon. Her high record for ire
proachableness in the matter Of proprieties
would have been considerably damaged, and
grave doubts would have arisen concerning
the sincerity of certain sentiments expressed
in the widely read "Ode to the Sublime in
Nature of which she was the distinguished
author. How this usually demure person, if
truly gifted with soul for "the sublime i'll
nature" could SO far neglect the grand old
woods about her, now radiant with all the
glories Of early autumn, as to stoop to so friv-
olous amusement as that in which she was
then engaged, would have passed all compre-
heusion. But Miss Jessamine Maure, secure
in the solitude of the forest. and animated
with the sense of freedom which can only be
appreciated by those whose lives are mostly
spent in the confines of a city, little needed
the sublimity of her surroundings, and not
infrequently broke the solemn stiffness with a
peal of laughter so merrily musical that the
very birds were hushed into envious silence.
Such vigorous exercise as that, however,
must of a necessity soon out wind one SO little
emily settled down to walking pace, re-
linquishing the stick entirely to the dog,
much to his evident chagrin.
They soon reached a spot In which any one
blessed with an iota of poetic or artistic feel
ing must have halted. A small stream,
that doubtless had its source in some swampy
lake buried in the very heart of the woods,
here flowed softly by, almost hidden save
where the road crossed it, by the growth of
bushes on either hand. A bridge formed of
rude planks, which had in its day been sturdy
if not particularly ornamental, spanned the
stream. Two slender poles, made fast to
posts placed at each corner of the bridge,
were the only guards on the sides of the
structure and against one of them Miss Jessa-
mine leaned, partly to fully recover her still
scant breath, and partly to enjoy the calm
beauty of the scene.
It was glorious. Tall trees of every species
age Of ftSar heads above her. through tho foli
and golden. file B}dss, flttlag ttlagced5 ID sallihdrfdd ald
among the branches chartered mefrilv 9"
each other in their mysteriously musical dia
lect The soft murmur of the stream sound
ed like the faint echo of a far off strain, sung
by the breeze which family stirred the tree
tops as it journeyed toward the north. Here,
indeed, was "the sublimity of nature" per-
sonified.
The recent excitement Gained down, Miss
Jessamine stood wrapt i'll meditative enjoy |
ment. A distant look in her eyes bespoke
the boundless realms to which her poetic soul
was soaring. Society, with its many mock
cries, its follies and frailties was forgotten.
The memory of the home III which her Or
phaned childhood had been spent, full as it |
was of indignities and accusations of pauper-
sm-even the existence of cruel aunt had
faded away. The weary days and nights Of
toll in which her first literary efforts were
made were indistinct vapors i'll her mind, and
the food tide of success which was now
bearing her on to prosperity gave no thrill Of
pleasure. All senses were absorbed i'll con-
temptation of the scene about her,
She was suddenly brought back to earth by |
a loud bark from Carlo, who, not being gifted |
with the faculty of enjoying SO engrossing
reverie, had wandered off in search of more |
active employment His bark was soon
answered by an angry exclamation from an
unquestionably masculine source. In O
moment more the crash Of underbrusl gave
warning that something unusual was up, and
when Carlo burst into sight his footsteps were
closely followed by the owner of the angry
voice, who was still exercising it in epithets
neither delicate nor complimentary to the |
dog.
Miss Jessanine was too much astonished |
and Mortified to pay attention to the beast
now crouching at her feet and growing def
ance at his pursuer. She was more interested
in the approaching stranger, whom she saw,
in one womanlike glance, was young, passably
good looking, very we'll dressed, bareheatled
and provoked. She was perceptibly prepos-
sessed In his favor. That he should seek to
harm her pet, however, was q criminal Of
fense in her eyes, and as he now drew hesitat-
ingly near, looking sheepishly at the unex-
pected vision before him, her dignity rose
considerably above par.
u beg your pardon, miss" he began, in an |
embarrassed manner. II assure you had no
idea Of lady being near"-
"And pray" she interruptingly retorted.
athough you had been quite alone, why
should you wish to abuse my good Carlo?n
"Don't you see?" he inquired in an apollo
getic tone, at the same time pointing down
at the dog, she has been playing the thief"
Miss Jessamine looked down, and the sight
was SO truly ridiculous that in spite of her
efforts she could not repress a hearty laugh, |
which, being a naturally infectious one, was |
Immediately joined in by the abashed plain
tiff. There between his great paws, all the
impressive gentility crushed ont of it, Carlo
was still holding the strangers silk hatl |
80, Carroll you naughty villaini" Miss |
Jessamine cried, as soon as she could control |
her voice; asee what mischief YOU have done,
you bad fellowl aren't you ashamed of your
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